WATCH Leonid Meteor Shower 2018: How to watch the Leonids tomorrow night?

The annual Leonid meteors will dazzle the night sky tomorrow, as skywatchers will be able to watch 20 to 30 bright falling stars every hour. The Leonid meteor shower usually takes place between November 13 and November 21, and this year it will peak at 8pm GMT on Saturday, November 17. The shower originates from the region of sky which holds the Leo constellation.

The shower is called Leonid because the point in the sky where the meteors seem to emerge from, lies in the constellation Leo.

The meteors themselves come from the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which completes an orbit around the sun every 33 years.

When passing the sun, a debris trail is created.

This means that every 33 years or so, viewers can experience a Leonid storm, which is much more intense than the Leonid shower, producing hundreds to thousands of falling stars her hour.

How to watch the Leonids tomorrow night

This year’s Leonid meteor shower will peak on November 17-18, particularly on Saturday night and early the following morning.

The Leonid meteor shower is so strong it can be viewed without any special equipment.

Therefore, all you should need is to use your eyes and look up into the night sky.

According to Space.com skywatchers in the Northern hemisphere will have an especially good shot at viewing the glaring shower, but it will also be visible for people in the Southern hemisphere.

The Leonid meteor shower will be visible in just about any direction, however, the shooting stars originate from the constellation Leo so focusing on this region of the sky will maximise the view.

The constellation lies between Cancer the crab to the west and Virgo the maiden to the east and is one of the easiest constellations to identify in the sky.

NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke said: “Go outside, find a dark sky, lie flat on your back and look straight up.”

And as the shooting stars take place during a cold time of year, Mr Cooke recommends people to dress warmly as skywatchers should “be prepared to spend a couple of hours outside.”

To get the best view as possible, here are a few tips to help maximise your meteor shower viewing experience.

  • 1. Find a dark spot, secluded from any city lights. And keep in mind, your eyes may need a few seconds to get used to the dark environment.
  • 2. Again, make sure you bring enough clothes to keep comfortable. Bring a blanket and perhaps a chair as you may be waiting for a while.
  • 3. Lie down on the ground. This helps maximise your view of the falling stars and won’t hurt your neck.